Trump Leverages Abraham Accords to Pressure Mideast Nations Amid Iran Negotiations

Trump pushes the Abraham Accords as a precondition for any Iran settlement

In a weekend Truth Social burst, former President Donald Trump told leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain that signing the Abraham Accords must be simultaneous if a durable deal with Tehran is to materialise.

He warned that any nation refusing to join would be excluded from the proposed pact, even hinting that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should sign ↑ immediately. The call, according to a senior U.S. official, was met with palpable silence; Trump joked, “Are you still there?”

“Linking regional peace to a fragile diplomatic framework ignores the core Palestinian grievance,” said William Figueroa, University of Groningen.

Pakistan’s defence minister has already ruled out participation, citing ideological clash. Egypt and Jordan already have formal ties with Israel, while Turkey’s relationship remains volatile after the Gaza conflict.

Analysts note that the original 2020 accords, lauded for economic boost, were criticised for bypassing the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which demands Israeli withdrawal and a Palestinian state. Iran remains outside the equation, yet Trump floated the idea that Tehran could eventually be invited to join, a notion dismissed by Tehran’s foreign ministry.

Negotiations in Qatar continue, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalling a possible memorandum that would extend the Strait of Hormuz cease‑fire ↓ 60 days and reopen trade routes. However, Israel’s renewed strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah threaten to derail any progress.

For now, the Trump administration’s gamble hinges on whether Arab capitals will trade economic incentives for political concessions, or walk away and leave the Iran talks in limbo.